Means and method of determining the inclination of well holes



' Nbv. 16 1937. c. ARI-:IN AD MEANS AND METHOD OF DETERMINING THE INCLiNA'I'ION OF WELL HOLES Filed Aug. 28, 1929 .4. .b l 2 44 2%. Mm

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS AND METHOD OF DETERLIINING THE INCLINATION OF WELL HOLES v Carl A. Reinhard, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 28, 1929, Serial No; 388,944 20 Claims. (01. 33-2053)- This invention-relates to devices and methods and it is contemplated that the present device employed in well drilling and particularly to deand method may be used just prior to the withvices and methods for ascertaining whether the drawal of the drill pipe from the well for purbottom of a well hole is inclined or not. The poses of changing bits so-that no additional labor 5 invention concerns a device adapted to be is required over that necessary to pull out the 6 dropped into a well carrying an acid bottle drill pipe for the purpose of changing bits. forming an indicating mechanism for indicating The present invention also contemplates the and recording the inclination of the device when provision of a suitable device wherein adequate it comes to rest near the bottom of the well hole. precautions are taken to enable the go-devil to 10 As devices which 'are freely dropped in wells readily and quickly pass through the tool joints 10 for various purposes. such asdetonating nitroof the drill pipe and to prevent breakage of the glycerine, are referred to in the'art as go-devils, indicating and recording means.

I refer to my, device as an acid bottle go-devil. Another object of the invention is to provide It is an object of this invention to provide an acid bottle go-devil having a novel, advanan acid bottle go-devil having a flexible body tageous and simple construction for mounting the 15 adapted to be dropped through a drill pipe into acid bottle in the bo a well. The flexibility of the body enables one With the foregoing and other objects in view, end of it to be moved laterally with respect to which will be made manifest in the followin the other and the flexible connection between detailed description,.and specifically pointed out Prior to the development of my invention a accompa y drawing fo n l ustrative emcustomary method of determining whether or b dim nt f th i venti n. wh rein: not a well that was being drilled by means of Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the ima rotarywell drilling apparatus had deviated 7 p ov d a id b ttle s -devilfrom the vertical was to withdraw the drill pipe F 2 is a lo gitud al Vert ca S t on through 25 from the hole, mount an acid bottle on a bailer, e a e. and lower the bailer into the well by means of a 3 i a a ged Partial. ve tical section sand line. The bottle, which contained an etchthrough the a tt E -d illustrating in ing acid,- was thus lower d int th w n d detail the manner in. which the acid bottle is allowed to remain at rest therein a .suflicient mounted within the body. 0 time to allow the acid to eat the walls of the 4 is a r ntal s cti n taken substanbottle up to the level of its surface. This protially upon the n p cedur'ewas awkward, cumbersome. and dange Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substanous. Time was consumed in rigging up to lower tinny upon line po F dition, there was always a, danger of th ba l -wherein similar reference characters designate becoming caught or hung in the open hole of the Similar parts throughout, the imp d i well, that is, that portion of the well which may bottle -d vil pris s a dy havi tw ri id be below previously set casing. The uncased ends. The lower end I0 is preferably formed of walls r the well were'subject to caving around al a d is po nt t facilitate s pass 40 the sand line and over the bailer, resulting in its through the Openings through tool joints a becoming hung and unrecoverable. Also, in such ll plp This pointed end is provided with a, instances where the mud or circulation fluid in shank ll presenting a, serrated or shouldered exthe well tend to settle there was danger of the terior surface. This shank is embedded in the 5 bailer becoming lost in the well while it relower end of a long cylindrical section l2 of remained stationary during the period that the silient live rubber. The upper end.l3 is hollow acid was eating the-bottle. and is internally threaded, as indicated at M. The presenkinvention has for its object to It is provided on its lower end with a shank provide a deviceand method of ascertaining l5, which hasa serrated or shouldered exterior whether or not a well hole has seriously deviated surface embedded in the upper end of the long 50 from the vertical while the drill pipe is in the cylindrical rubber connecting member l2. The

well, thus eliminating the danger of hanging up "rubber connecting member I! enables the lower or losing parts in the well. Thedrill pipe must end III to be moved laterally with respect to the be withdrawn from the well at fairly frequent inupper end l3 and does not prevent the ends from tervals to replace the worn bit with a new bit, being moved out of alignment with each other. 55

the ends of the body forms a, cushion; in the appended claims, reference is had to the the bailer by means of thesand line and, in adf ri to the accompany g drawing, 35

It also forms a resilient or cushioning connection between the two ends. A threaded closure ll, having a squared boss I1, is adapted to be screwed into the top of the upper end l2. The-closure It has a reduced lower end It, which is threaded, -to receive a metal container l0. Within the metal container, at the bottom thereof, there is positioned a pad 2|! of soft resilient spongerubber or the like, and suitable; springs 2| are mounted on the inside of the container l9 and bear against the sides of the acid bottle 22 disposed therein. The springs 2| keep the acid bottle 22 centrally of the container is to assist in preventing shocks from being transmitted thereto. The acid bottle is closed by a rubber plug 23, which may be fastened to the reduced lower end I. of the closure l6.

When it is desired to determine whether the bottom of a well hole is inclined or not, the improved acid bottle go-devil is assembled and acid 24, or other indicating means, is placed in the bottle 22. It will be readily understood'by those familiar in the art that the correct quantity of acid is used of such strength that it will eat the glass of the acid bottle 22 and form a marking thereon, which when the device is recovered will indicate the position in which the go-devil was disposed when it came to rest. The acid or other indicating material having been placed in the bottle, the bottle is placed in the container and the closure 16 screwed into the container, after which the closure with the attached acid bottle and container are screwed into the shell provided by the upper end ii. The kelly on the drill stem is removed and the go-devil is dropped or lowered through the drill pipe.

As it very seldom occurs that a deep well hole is absolutely straight, the go-devil during its fall will usually strike the sides of the drill pipe and encounter shoulders aiforded by tool Joints. n encountering the shoulders, the rubber connecting member I! allows the lower pointed end II to move laterally and pass through the tool joint without transmitting a severe shock either from bending or compression of the rubber connecting member l2 to the acid bottle. By virtue of the fact that the body can bend, it will in effect worm its way through the openings in the tool Joints while dropping and no severe shocks will be transmitted to the bottle, breaking it.

When the go-devil reaches the bottom of the drill pipe it is kept in the drill pipe by the hit mounted on the bottom thereof. Where bits are provided with circulation ports opposite the center of the drill pipe, the pointed end II will enter the circulation port and the device willcome to rest. The action of the acid 24 on the bottle 22 is carefully timed. and the device is allowed to rest at the bottom of the drill pipe a sufllcient length of time so that a good clear mark will be formed on the bottle, to give the desired indication. Thereafter the drill pipe is pulled out of the hole and the go-devil disassembled to obtain the indication recorded.

As clearly shown upon Figs. 1 and 2, the pointed lower end III is preferably provided on its exterior surface with long. vertical grooves or passages 25. These grooves serve to permit circulation fluid to drain out of the drill pipe while the drill pipe is being pulled out of the hole, in the event that the pointed end II on the go-d'evil enters the discharge port in the bit, consequently in the drill pipe while in the well hole.

Using the above-described method and apparatus it will be noted that the inclination recording structure is protected against becomingcaught in the well by virtue of the fact that it is kept with- In this manner, if any caving of the well should take place, while the inclination is being determined and recorded, the inclination recording device will not become lost as long as the drill pipe itself is recoverable.

From the above described method and construction it will be appreciated that a novel, advantageous and simple, method and device is provided, which will give an indication as to the inclination of the bottom of a well hole and suitable and satisfactory precaution is provided for against breakage of the acid bottle.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the, class described comprising an elongated body adapted to be dropped or lowered into a well,.said body having rigid ends, means forming a flexible connection between the ends enabling one end to move laterally with respect to the other, and means associatedwith the body for indicating its inclination when the body comes to rest near the bottom of the well, said flexibleconnection also providing a resilient cushion between the ends of the body.

2. A device of the class described comprising an elongated body at least the. major portion of which is formed of flexible resilient rubber. said body being adapted tobe dropped or lowered into a well, and means on said body for indicating its inclination with respect to the vertical when the body comes to rest near the bottom of the well.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body having upper and lower rigid ends, the

lower end being pointed, an elongated section of flexible rubber connecting said ends, said body being adapted to be dropped or lowered into a well, and means on the upper end of said body forindicating its inclination with respect to the vertical when the body comes to rest near "the bottom of the well.

a body adapted to be dropped or lowered into a wellQsaid body providing a rigid shell, a closure for said shell, a container connected to the closure, an acid bottle disposed within said container, and resilient means dispoud between the acid bottle andthe container.

5. A'devlce of the class described comprising an elongated resilient rubber body. there being a pointed end at the bottom of said body, a shell at the top of said body, a container disposed therein, an acid bottle disposed within said container, and resilient means disposed between the acid bottle and the container.

6. A device of the class described comprising an elongated resilient rubber body, there being a pointed end at the bottom of said body, a shell at the top of said body, a container disposed therein, an acid bottle disposed within said container, and resilient means disposed between the acid bottle and the container, the pointed end of the body having es thereon as and for the 'l. The method of determining the inclination of a well hole adjacent the bottom thereof which comprises dropping freely through the drill pipe in the well hole a cushionprotected instrument adapted to form a record or the position of the instrument with respect to the vertical when it comes to rest, allowing the instrument to come to rest at the bottom ofthe drill-pipe, withdraw.- ing the drill pipe, and reading the record made.

8. The method of determining the inclination of a well hole adjacent the bottom thereof which comprises dropping freely through a drill pipe in the well a cushion protected container containing a liquid adapted toiorm a record of the position assumed by the surface of the liquid when the container comes to rest, allowing ,the container to come to rest at the bottom-of the drill pipe and .cause the record to be formed, withdrawing the drill pipe, and reading the record.

9. The method. of determining the inclination of a well hole adjacent the bottom thereof which comprises in the well a cushion protected bottle containing acid which acid is adapted to etchthe walls of the bottle on coming to rest, allowing the bottle to come to rest at the bottom of the drill pipe, withdrawing the drill pipe, and reading the record formed by the etched walls of the bottle;

10. Apparatus for determining the inclination of well holes comprising in combination a string of drill pipe disposed in said well hole, a free falling elongated holder having a container therein, the container having an etching liquid, said holder and container being adapted to drop by gravity through said string and means in said string to arrest the travel of and support said holder, said string being adapted to elevate the holder 'and container to the top of the well hole on hoisting the string.

11. A device for determining the inclination of a bore hole at a predetermined point therealong,

comprising an elongated body adapted to be dropped into and to pass freely through a drill pipe positioned within said bore hole, the said body having provided therein a chamber or recess and apletachable closure therefor, an inclination recording instrument supported within said chamber, and resilient means, disposed between said instrument and the chamber to cushion the instrument against shock incident to its fallin through the drill pipe.

12. A device for determining the inclination of a bore hole at a predetermined point therealong, comprising an elongated body adapted to be dropped into and to pass freely through a drill pipe positioned within said bore hole, the said body having provided therein .a chamber or recess and a detachable closure therefor, an acid bottle recording device supported within said chamber, and resilient means disposed between said bottle and the chamber to cushion the bottle against shock' incident to its falling through the drill pipe.

13. The method of ascertaining whether a well being drilled by a rotary well drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises dropping through the fluid in the drill pipe of such apparatus while the drill pipe is in the wellan. instrument capable of indicating its positionh m ,mentto come torest in the drill pipe and make to the vertical, allowing the instruthe indication. and withdrawing the drill pipe from the well.

14. 'The method of ascertaining whether a well drilled by a rotary well drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises droppin through the fluid in the drill pipe of such appstfli whiiethedrillp misinthewellan dropping freely througha drill pipe.

' the drillpipe.

. '3 instrument capable oi indicating its position with respect to the vertical, allowing the instrument to come to rest in the drill pipe and make the indication, withdrawing the drill pipe from the well, and in so doing allowing the fluid in the drill pipe to drain out around the instrument.

15. The method of ascertaining whether a well being drilled by a rotarywell drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises dropping through, the fluid in the drill pipe of such apparatus while the drill pipe is in the well an instrument capable of indicating and recording its position with respect to the vertical, allowing the instrument to come to rest in the drill pipe and to'indicate and record its position with respect to the vertical and consequently the approximate position of that portion of the drill pipe near the point where the instrument came to rest, withdrawing the drill pipe, recovering the instrument, and reading the record made.

16. The method of ascertaining whether a ,well being drilled by a rotary well drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises dropping through the fluid in the drill pipe of an instrument capable of indicating and recording its position with respect to the vertical, allowing the instrument to come to rest in the drill pipe and to indicate and record its position with respect to the vertical and consequently the approximate position of that portion of the drill pipe near the point where the instrument came to rest, withdrawing the drill pipe, recovering the instrument, and reading the record made, and during the withdrawing of the drill pipe allowing the fluid therein to drain therefrom about the instrument.

1'7. An apparatus for determining the inclination of well holes comprising, in combination, an elongated body adapted to be dropped or lowered through the fluid in a drill pipe while the drill pipe is in a well, means mounted on the body for indicating and forming-a record of the position assumed by'the body after it has come to rest in 18. Anapparatus for determining the inclination of well holes comprising, in combinatiom an elongated body adapted to be dropped or lowered through the fluid in a drill pipe while the drill pipe is in a well, means mounted on the body for indicating and forming a record of the position assumed by the body after it has come to rest in the drill pipe, said body having passages thereon providing for the draining or the fluid from the drill pipe during the withdrawing oi the drill pipe fromthe well to obtain the record formed.

19. The method of ascertaining whether a well being drilled by a rotary well drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises introducing into the drill pipe of such apparatus while the drill pipe is in'the well an instrument capable 0! indicating and recording its position with rcspectdo the vertical, allowing the instru-' ment to come .to rest near the bottom 0! the drill pipe after descending therein and make the record so as to indicate the approximate inclination oi the drill pipe near the point where the instrument comes to rest and consequently the approximate inclination of the'well hole being drilled. regolvering the instrument and readingthe record m e.

20. The method or aseertaininfl being drilled by a rotary well drilling apparatus has deviated from the vertical which comprises introducing into the drill pipe of such apparatus 4 ewes-m dicnte ofthe drill pipe near the point where the instrument comes to rest and consequently the approximate inclination of the well hole thereohouts. recovering the instrument and reodlngthemeordmde. C.A.'RIINHARD. 

